JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (December 14, 2011) – The ETSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics hosted a luncheon earlier this week, recognizing the Gerald Thomas family and Thomas Construction Company, Inc. for their generous donation to the new on-campus baseball facility set to open this season and officially announced the naming of the stadium – Thomas Stadium.

The luncheon, which was held at the Carnegie Hotel, included the Thomas family and several members of the ETSU Athletics Department. Guest speakers included Dr. Paul E. Stanton (President), Dave Mullins (Director of Intercollegiate Athletics), Tony Skole (Head Baseball Coach) and Matthew Scruggs (ETSU senior outfielder).

“We are extremely grateful to the Thomas family for their contributions to ETSU as an institution, and to ETSU athletics in particular,” saidMullins. “Their generosity was the key to proceeding with this new baseball stadium project, and without them none of this would have been possible. They are a true Buccaneer family."

The Thomas family generously provided the stadium site development, labor and materials valued at approximately $500,000. The family has contributed over $1.3 million to East Tennessee State University over the years, including site work for Betty Basler Field and gifts to the Quillen College of Medicine, Gatton College of Pharmacy, Buccaneer Athletic Scholarship Association (BASA) and the Hoops Club.

“Everyone that is associated with our university and especially those who have been associated with ETSU Baseball, will be forever grateful to Gerald and Sandy Thomas and their wonderful family,” said Skole. “Their generosity will have an eternal impact on our university, our community, our baseball program and on the lives of all those young men who have the privilege of wearing the Blue and Gold. Our coaching staff and our players are extremely excited about opening this season at “The Thom.” With Opening Day only 64 days away, we are looking forward to welcoming the new traditions that this stadium will bring to our program. It is going to a wonderful facility that will change our program forever.”

Thomas Stadium is set to open on February 17, for the start of the 2012 baseball stadium, when the Bucs host Eastern Kentucky in a three-game series.